How To Survive Lockdown: A 10 Tip Guide

Since being in lockdown, we have all been thrown into the deep end. We have had to come up with ways of dealing with not seeing family/friends or being able to carry out our daily routines, with no instruction manual, total improv! I've found it fascinating seeing how everyone is coping differently: all the baking, hoarding, knitting and home workouts...

So I thought I would share with you my experience; hopefully my top 10 tips will give you some ideas (or maybe make you think "what on earth is she doing?").

1. Keeping Socials Updated

As a recent graduate trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, this time indoors has been a blessing in disguise. It is the graduate's time to get ahead of the game. Update your LinkedIn profile you started in uni then left to collect dust, or start one if you are new to the website! It is the number one social that employers will look on, so take this time to polish off a stellar summary, add in work experience using lots of detail and most importantly, keep it updated. Share articles, connect with professionals, post updates you make in your working life; it will look amazing when applying for jobs.

You could also start up a blog (just like me, right now) or set up an Instagram account for documenting your hobby. Make yourself present online. It will show employers you are dedicated.

2. Free Online Courses

Sticking to the theme of employment, now is also a perfect time to use the unlimited free resources available online. I have recently completed the 'Personal Branding for Career Success' free online course with The Open University. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to up their job application game! They offer courses at Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

There are free courses in literally every subject on other sites too; brush up on your current skills, or try something completely out of the box. Why not?! Then you can, you guessed it, post it on your LinkedIn! It will show employers you are adaptable and proactive.

3. Virtual Dating

One unexpected positive from being in lockdown has been dating online. Fancy getting a little bit dressed up and meeting people without the pressure of real life? Whack on a bit of lippy and perfume and try out these suggestions for emulating a real life date!

• Getting a little bit dolled up, or suave, will get you in the mindset and keep you confident and flirty. You could both even have a little tipple, bit o' liquid courage.

• Video call on your preferred website or app (I've been using HouseParty).

• Play 8 Ball Pool and pretend you're in a real pub playing pool, a great way to show your playful competitive side (or your aggressive and angry competitive side, if you're anything like me).

• Before hand, create a quiz about you, for each other. I made one up with questions like "What is my ideal holiday?"and "What is my ideal date?", then providing three options. I also did some true or false questions about myself. It is a super fun way of getting to know one another to compensate for lack of real opportunities to find these things out!

• Netflix Party whilst on video call, is a great way of virtually Netflix and Chill-ing. You could take it one step further (maybe too far) and both buy the same snacks ahead of time...

4. Read!

If you're like me, you love to read when you actually read, but you never really give it the time or effort. Well during quarantine I have kicked myself up the bum and started reading again. Here are some suggestions:

• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. An absolutely beautiful, heart-wrenching book by my favourite author, I would highly recommend. Choose a fictional book you have wanted to read, and read it! Escape the real world and dive into a book.

• The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell , which is currently featured as my Pick of the Month. I had never read a self-help book before and I was pretty skeptical beforehand. Recommended to me by my dad, it has actually been a real life saver for someone who incessantly worries, and it has made me feel a lot less anxious overall: something that is more useful that ever in this current state!

5. Have a Night Out...In

My best friend and myself, living in a little two bed flat that we love, have been fortunate to have each other during lockdown. Like everyone, we were missing that going 'Out Out' feeling, so we took it upon ourselves to sort out a night out...in.

Here are some steps to follow:

• Whack on your proper, going out makeup (that's normally my favourite bit of the night anyway), and take some selfies, obviously. Or, if that's not for you, don't! That is part of the beauty of a night out in, you don't need to worry about looking good.

• Get your LED'S (flashing ones are even better), any fairy lights you own, turn off the main light and light up your living room like a Christmas tree.

• Make a killer playlist beforehand, and blast it loud and proud (respectfully)

• Get your alcohol of choice at hand

• Play some drinking games to get the night flowing (admittedly drinking games for two are quite limited, there has been a LOT of games of Snap).

• Play Just Dance. We have had some absolute balls playing on this after a few drinks pretending we are in the club. If you don't have the game, put some game-play videos on Youtube on the TV and dance along!

• Then the best bit... order a dirty, greasy takeaway. The perfect way to end any good night out (in).

6. Take Your Time

One thing I have noticed, is that there is no need rush. I am usually such a busy body, quickly trying to finish my current task so I can get onto the next one. I would complete tasks like there was a time bomb attached to me! I had a wonderful moment where I realised I could take my time, put effort into the small details and really enjoy what I'm doing.

Cooking, for example, has been so much more enjoyable. have been trying lots of different recipes, as well as taking my time perfecting my usual favourites. I would highly recommend taking a step back from whatever task you're doing, breathe and really enjoy the process while you can.

7. Reconnect

What a better time than now to reconnect with people you might have fallen out of touch with over the years? Drop them a quick message, or call!

We have also all been loving the video call quizzes, the best, most inclusive way of getting the family together at the moment!

You could send loved ones a card or some little gift in the post to brighten their day. At the moment, we all need a pick me up, and we all love a surprise delivery (my flat is very lacking in flowers right now... just saying...).

8. Home Workouts

Whether you are into fitness or not, it is important to keep active whilst we are stuck at home, for the body and soul! Whether you are following a online workout or just walking to the shop, every little helps. I have been using bags of brown rice and shopping bags full of tinned tomatoes and kidney beans as weights for my home workouts: improvise, adapt, overcome.

9. Home DIY

Do you have a load of photos, cinema tickets, receipts and other miscellaneous pieces of paper you have hoarded throughout your life? No? Just me?

I have been sticking all of my loose memorabilia into scrap books. I had planned to do this for ages, but it had all just been sat in a box under my bed, until now! A great, productive thing to get on with for all my fellow overly sentimental folk out there.

Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes you don't actually wear? You do, I know you do, there's no hiding this time. Sift through and pick out all the clothes you don't wear anymore. I did this, and reworked a load of my t-shirts into crop tops! A simple, eco-friendly way of clearing out some space and making the most of what you have. The rest can be put in a bag ready to be donated!

10. Let Yourself Off the Hook

You are in a global pandemic. It is a trying time, so don't get caught up in the idea of being productive all the time. If you feel like staying in your pyjamas, ordering a takeaway and binge-ing Ru Paul's Drag Race all day (yes, I am talking from experience), that is more than fine. Life is all about balance, something I have always tried to keep in the forefront of my mind. Give yourself some time off now and then, and come back to your productivity with a rested mind.